I went on my first cruise — it was nothing like I expected | Cruise | Travel

At the end of last summer, I decided to go on my first ever cruise. There was only one cruise line I was desperate to try — Virgin Voyages. I’d seen their advertising and heard from a friend how different their cruises were.

Something tailored for the more casual sailor, no formal nights, and best of all… no children. I quickly signed up for a one-week cruise around France and Spain from Portsmouth with my mum in tow. A true test to see how much the cruise could cater to different generations.

As soon as we boarded the boat, I could tell this was going to be nothing like what I imagined a traditional cruise ship to be. The ship was modern, sleek, and felt brand new. No area was unthemed, dirty, or tatty.

Within a few minutes of boarding, I already had a free ice cream in my hand from the ice cream parlour — named “Lick Me Till Ice Cream” — a sign of the tongue-in-cheek vibe that Virgin Voyages has to offer throughout the whole experience.

One thing I loved about the trip was that (almost) everything was included in the price. I’ve heard lots of horror stories from other cruise lines about hidden upcharges, premium dining restaurants that cost extra, and tips. On Virgin, it was clear everything was paid for — all tips were included and every restaurant was available to everyone.

The only thing that wasn’t included in the fare is the alcohol, which works just as it would in a bar on land—you pay as you go—no confusing drinks packages here!

The absolute best thing about this cruise, for me, had to be the food. Not only can you order as much as you like (two desserts were often consumed), but it was all incredible. Extra Virgin, the Italian restaurant on board, was my favourite. We tried multiple types of pasta, all as delicious as the last, and I have no idea how I didn’t need to be physically rolled out of the restaurant.

Other brilliant dining experiences included The Wake, an upmarket steak restaurant, and Test Kitchen, a six-course tasting menu that felt extremely premium.

This cruise wasn’t your ordinary cruise, but even if that is your type of thing, I think you’d enjoy it too. There was a huge range of people on our ship, young and old, and everyone was just there to have a great time.

I haven’t even touched on the brilliant entertainment yet. From club nights to cabaret shows, Virgin Voyages had it all.

There were no reservations needed, either, another thing I loved about the laidback atmosphere. Traditional cruise ship entertainment was offered, often with a twist, like bingo, but hosted by the ship’s onboard resident drag queen.

I have no complaints about the actual ship either. However, I do wish we had lucked out more with our itinerary. Our stop in La Coruna, Spain, was cancelled due to bad weather, and the seas were definitely not gentle for our sailing.

Instead of a formal night, the cruise line runs a giant ‘Scarlet Night,’ where the entire ship transforms into a glowing red nightclub with a huge pool party. It looks incredible with all the guests dressed in red, too.

Unfortunately, due to the weather, our Scarlet Night was scaled back, and the pool party was cancelled at the last minute. I’d love to go again and try out their Mediterranean cruises for better weather and smoother sailing.

If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday this summer, Virgin Voyages returns for trips from Portsmouth from July. Even if you think cruises might not be your thing, I can’t recommend it enough.